BEIRUT, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon on Wednesday condemned the Israeli parliament's approval of legislation banning activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Israel, calling it a "flagrant violation of international law and relevant international legitimacy resolutions."

In a statement posted on social media platform X, the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants stated that "this unprecedented step is part of a systematic Israeli campaign to target UNRWA, distort its image, obstruct its efforts, and end its role in providing essential services and humanitarian aid to Palestinian refugees in host countries and the occupied territories."

The ministry added that Israel's continued efforts to discourage donor countries from funding UNRWA "pose a threat to regional security and host countries, depriving Palestinians of hope for a better future and pushing them toward despair and extremism."

It urged the international community to counter these "illegal measures" by maintaining necessary support for UNRWA and securing financial resources from donor countries to enable the agency to continue its services to Palestinian refugees.

The Israeli parliament, the Knesset, on Monday passed a law prohibiting UNRWA from operating in Israel.

"As it is proven that UNRWA and its employees participate and are involved in terrorist activity against Israel, it is proposed to establish that Israel will act to stop all activities of the agency in its territory," the explanatory notes to the law read. Enditem

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